Abstract
BACKGROUND—In Australia an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI), with the exception of anaphylaxis and encephalopathy, is no longer considered an absolute contraindication to continuing vaccination with the suspect vaccine. Despite these recommendations there is a paucity of information on the re-vaccination of such children. AIMS—To describe the re-vaccination of a large number of children with a past history of an AEFI. METHODS—A review of children attending special immunisation services in three Australian tertiary care paediatric centres. RESULTS—During the review 970 children attended of whom 469 had experienced a past AEFI. Of these, 293 had experienced minor while 176 children had experienced significant neurological or allergic reactions. The majority (421/469) were re-vaccinated, with only one child having a significant neurological event; this was transient and resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS—Re-vaccination of children who have a past history of an AEFI appears safe. A special immunisation service should be part of a comprehensive immunisation programme.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (88.5 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Andrews R. M., Kempe A. E., Sinn K. K., Herceg A. Vaccinating children with a history of serious reactions after vaccination or of egg allergy. Med J Aust. 1998 May 18;168(10):491–494. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb141412.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ball L. K., Evans G., Bostrom A. Risky business: challenges in vaccine risk communication. Pediatrics. 1998 Mar;101(3 Pt 1):453–458. doi: 10.1542/peds.101.3.453. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burgess M. A., McIntyre P. B., Heath T. C. Rethinking contraindications to vaccination. Med J Aust. 1998 May 18;168(10):476–477. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb141404.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chen R. T., Hibbs B. Vaccine safety: current and future challenges. Pediatr Ann. 1998 Jul;27(7):445–455. doi: 10.3928/0090-4481-19980701-11. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Decker M. D., Edwards K. M., Steinhoff M. C., Rennels M. B., Pichichero M. E., Englund J. A., Anderson E. L., Deloria M. A., Reed G. F. Comparison of 13 acellular pertussis vaccines: adverse reactions. Pediatrics. 1995 Sep;96(3 Pt 2):557–566. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hankey G. J. Preventing stroke: what is the real progress? Med J Aust. 1999 Sep 20;171(6):285–286. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1999.tb123654.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ko M. L., Rao M., Teare L., Bridgman G. C., Kurian A. Outcome of referrals to a district immunisation advisory clinic. Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev. 1995 Sep 15;5(10):R146–R149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leask J. A., Chapman S. An attempt to swindle nature: press anti-immunisation reportage 1993-1997. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1998 Feb;22(1):17–26. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-842x.1998.tb01140.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lister S., McIntyre P. B., Burgess M. A., O'Brien E. D. Immunisation coverage in Australian children: a systematic review 1990-1998. Commun Dis Intell. 1999 Jun 10;23(6):145–170. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Newport M. J., Conway S. P. Experience of a specialist service for advice on childhood immunisation. J Infect. 1993 May;26(3):295–300. doi: 10.1016/0163-4453(93)95481-w. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- O'Brien E., D'Souza R., Gilroy N., Burgess M., Lister S., McIntyre P., Torvaldsen S., Moser K., Milton A. Australia's notifiable diseases status, 1997. Annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Commun Dis Intell. 1999 Jan 21;23(1):1–27. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tozzi A. E., Ciofi degli Atti M. L., Salmaso S., Anemona A. Repeat whole cell vaccinations should be avoided after hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes. BMJ. 1998 Aug 29;317(7158):604–604. doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7158.604a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Vermeer-de Bondt P. E., Labadie J., Rümke H. C. Rate of recurrent collapse after vaccination with whole cell pertussis vaccine: follow up study. BMJ. 1998 Mar 21;316(7135):902–903. doi: 10.1136/bmj.316.7135.902. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]